What Vaccinations Does Burundi Require for New Zealanders in 2026?

Quick answer: New Zealander citizens entering Burundi must have proof of yellow fever vaccination from 9 months of age, regardless of whether they travel directly from New Zealand or transit elsewhere. The certificate should be recorded in an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP), also known as the yellow card.

For health protection, the CDC recommends yellow fever vaccination and typhoid vaccination for travellers to Burundi, while hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for unvaccinated travellers aged 1 year or older. Routine vaccinations should also be up to date, and malaria prevention should be arranged with a healthcare professional.

Last checked August 2026 — always confirm with official sources before travelling.

Vaccinations for Burundi: required versus recommended

Burundi’s entry requirement is separate from the vaccines a clinician may recommend for personal protection. The requirement that is clearly identified in the available country guidance is yellow fever vaccination for every arriving traveller aged 9 months or older.

Vaccine or preventive measure	Status for New Zealanders travelling to Burundi	What to do
Yellow fever	Required for entry from 9 months of age; also recommended for protection.	Carry an ICVP showing vaccination or an accepted medical waiver.
Hepatitis A	Recommended for unvaccinated travellers aged 1 year or older.	Discuss vaccination with a travel-health clinician. Infants aged 6–11 months may also need a dose in some circumstances.
Typhoid	Recommended for most travellers.	It is particularly relevant for visitors staying with friends or relatives or travelling to smaller cities and rural areas.
Routine vaccines	Should be current before travel.	Review routine protection, including measles, mumps and rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella and seasonal influenza, with a clinician.
Cholera	May be considered for travellers going to areas of active transmission.	Check the current outbreak situation and obtain individual advice.
Malaria	Requires mosquito-bite precautions and medical advice about preventive medicine.	Ask a clinician which prescription option, if any, fits your health and itinerary.

The exact recommendation can differ according to your age, pregnancy status, immune system, medical conditions, planned activities, length of stay and access to healthcare. A traveller staying in Bujumbura may receive different advice from someone visiting rural areas, staying with local families or taking a wildlife safari.

Yellow fever certificate rules for New Zealanders

Burundi requires a yellow fever certificate for all arriving travellers aged 9 months or older. This applies to New Zealand passport holders travelling directly from New Zealand as well as people arriving after travelling through other countries.

Proof is normally presented through an ICVP. CDC guidance states that travellers must comply with a country’s entry requirement by showing an ICVP with evidence of vaccination or an indication of a medical waiver. The full itinerary matters because airport transfers can sometimes involve immigration or leaving the international transit area.

For that reason, do not assess the requirement only from your first flight sector. Review every planned stop, especially if you have a long layover, change airports, collect baggage or leave the airport transit zone. A transit country may have its own yellow fever certificate rules, and the requirement can depend on whether you pass through immigration.

Since 2016, the International Health Regulations have treated a completed yellow fever certificate as valid for the life of the vaccinated person. CDC guidance says a booster requirement was eliminated and an ICVP is considered valid for life. NaTHNaC likewise states that a certificate cannot be rejected solely because more than 10 years have passed since vaccination became effective.

That lifetime validity does not remove the need to check the certificate itself. Ask a designated vaccination provider or travel clinic whether your existing record is correctly completed and whether a medical waiver is appropriate. The available research does not establish a New Zealand-specific process for issuing or replacing an ICVP, so confirm the procedure with an authorised provider in New Zealand before departure.

For a related comparison of entry-health guidance, see what vaccines Burundi requires for Norwegian travellers. The relevant point for New Zealanders is that Burundi’s stated rule applies to arriving travellers by age, not just to people departing from a particular country.

Recommended vaccinations and timing

Routine vaccinations

Use the trip as an opportunity to review routine immunisation. Travel-health guidance highlights measles, mumps and rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, varicella, meningococcal disease and seasonal influenza among the routine vaccines that may need attention, depending on your personal record.

Do not assume that a childhood vaccination record is complete or current. Take your New Zealand immunisation information to the appointment so the clinician can identify missing doses or boosters. The advice is individual rather than a single Burundi vaccine schedule.

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for unvaccinated travellers aged 1 year or older going to Burundi. The CDC also states that infants aged 6–11 months should receive a dose when travelling to Burundi; that dose does not count towards the routine two-dose series.

People who cannot receive a vaccine because of an allergy to a component may be advised to receive immune globulin. The CDC says protection can last up to two months depending on the dosage. It also describes combined vaccine and immune-globulin use for certain higher-risk unvaccinated people departing for a risk area in less than two weeks.

Typhoid

Typhoid vaccination is recommended for most travellers to Burundi, with particular relevance for people visiting friends and relatives or travelling in smaller cities and rural areas. Food and water hygiene remains important because vaccination is not a substitute for careful eating and drinking practices.

Cholera and other itinerary-dependent advice

The CDC notes that cholera vaccination may be considered for children and adults travelling to areas of active cholera transmission. UK travel advice reports that a cholera outbreak continues in Burundi, so check current notices and ask a clinician whether your route and activities justify vaccination.

Other recommendations can depend on the type of travel, exposure to animals, sexual-health risks, accommodation and planned work. Discuss the itinerary rather than requesting a generic list of “African travel vaccines.” Travellers comparing destinations can also review SafariFind’s Burundi vaccine guidance for Danish travellers for a country-specific comparison, while using official health sources for the current decision.

Book a travel-health appointment early. UK government guidance advises checking vaccine recommendations at least eight weeks before travel; even when departure is sooner, an appointment can still help with available vaccination, malaria medication and personal medical planning.

Malaria in Burundi: risk, prophylaxis and prevention

Malaria is present throughout Burundi, and travel-health guidance reports that antimalarial medication is recommended for travellers to all regions. The choice of medicine depends on the itinerary, duration, health profile and other medicines, so it must be made with a medical professional rather than selected solely from an online list.

Ask about malaria prevention before departure if you are pregnant, have chronic illness, take regular medication or have a history of drug allergies. A clinician can consider the destination, season, accommodation, rural travel and the practical timing of the medicine.

• Use an insect repellent recommended by your clinician and follow its product instructions.
• Wear clothing that reduces exposed skin, particularly when mosquito exposure is more likely.
• Use screened accommodation or a mosquito net where appropriate.
• Take prescribed prophylaxis exactly as directed and seek medical advice before stopping or changing it.
• Seek prompt medical care for a fever during the trip or after returning from a malaria-risk area.

Mosquito precautions also matter for diseases without a routine traveller vaccine. UK health advice lists malaria, dengue, Zika and yellow fever among the health risks associated with Burundi, while NaTHNaC advises avoiding mosquito bites at all times for yellow fever prevention.

Health documents and travel insurance

Keep your yellow fever ICVP with your travel documents and make sure the details are legible. If vaccination is medically unsuitable, ask a qualified clinician whether a medical waiver can be issued and whether Burundi’s border authorities will accept it; CDC guidance specifically refers to an ICVP showing a medical waiver.

Carry a written record of regular medicines, allergies and important medical conditions. It is also sensible to retain copies separately from the originals, although the available research does not specify a particular format or document requirement for New Zealanders. Ask your healthcare provider what information would be useful in an emergency.

Arrange travel insurance that covers the healthcare you may need in Burundi and unexpected medical evacuation. UK government advice says travellers should check that the destination can provide the required healthcare and have appropriate insurance for local treatment or medical evacuation.

Healthcare access may be limited outside major centres, so insurance and evacuation terms deserve attention before booking activities. Once your health planning is complete, you can compare safari packages on SafariFind alongside the route, accommodation and transport arrangements.

Medication rules and what to pack

The legal status and regulation of prescription and over-the-counter medicines can differ between the United Kingdom and Burundi. That principle is relevant to New Zealand travellers too: check the legality of any controlled or restricted medicine with the relevant Burundian authorities before travel, and ask your prescriber about alternatives if necessary.

• Pack enough regular medication for the trip and keep it in its original labelled packaging.
• Carry the prescription or a doctor’s letter describing the medicine and dose; confirm any translation or import requirements before departure.
• Take your yellow fever certificate or medical waiver with your passport documents.
• Pack clinician-approved insect repellent and any recommended mosquito net or protective clothing.
• Bring supplies that support safe food and water practices, particularly if travelling beyond major towns.

Do not wait until the airport to resolve medication questions. The sources available for this guide do not provide a complete Burundi import list or current medicine-by-medicine rules, so confirm restricted substances through official channels before packing.

Health facilities and emergencies in Burundi

UK travel advice says there are three hospitals in Bujumbura that provide medical care for serious accidents. It also warns travellers to check whether Burundi can provide the healthcare they may need before travelling.

For an ambulance in Burundi, call 112. UK government guidance also lists 109 for assistance from the Red Cross. If you are referred to a medical facility, contact your insurer quickly, particularly if treatment or evacuation may be required.

Seek urgent medical attention if you develop fever, severe diarrhoea, dehydration, jaundice, breathing difficulty or other serious symptoms. The research identifies continuing cholera concerns and malaria risk, but it does not provide a complete diagnostic or treatment protocol; a clinician must assess symptoms in context.

Before departure, give your insurer and a trusted contact a copy of your itinerary and relevant medical details. Keep emergency contact information accessible rather than stored only in checked luggage. These practical steps do not replace professional medical advice, and health and entry rules can change.

Related Burundi travel guidance

Vaccination is only one part of entry planning. For the separate immigration question, read Does Burundi Require a Visa for New Zealanders in 2026?. Visa rules and health-document rules are different requirements, so confirm both independently with the relevant official authorities before travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do New Zealander citizens need a yellow fever certificate for Burundi?

Yes. Burundi requires proof of yellow fever vaccination for all arriving travellers aged 9 months or older, including New Zealanders travelling directly from New Zealand.

Does travelling directly from New Zealand remove Burundi’s yellow fever requirement?

No. The available CDC guidance states that Burundi requires the vaccine for all arriving travellers aged 9 months or older, so the rule is not limited to arrivals from yellow-fever-risk countries.

What document proves yellow fever vaccination for Burundi?

Use an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis, commonly called an ICVP or yellow card. CDC guidance says the ICVP can show vaccination or an accepted medical waiver.

How long is a Burundi yellow fever certificate valid?

A completed yellow fever certificate is considered valid for the life of the vaccinated person. CDC and NaTHNaC guidance state that a booster or rejection solely because more than 10 years have passed should not be required.

Which vaccines are recommended for New Zealanders visiting Burundi?

Yellow fever and typhoid vaccination are recommended for travellers, and hepatitis A is recommended for unvaccinated travellers aged 1 year or older. Routine vaccinations should also be current, while cholera vaccination may be considered for travel to areas of active transmission.

Is hepatitis A vaccination recommended for Burundi?

Yes. The CDC recommends hepatitis A vaccination for unvaccinated travellers aged 1 year or older going to Burundi. Infants aged 6–11 months may also receive a dose, which does not count toward the routine two-dose series.

Do New Zealanders need malaria tablets for Burundi?

Travel-health guidance reports malaria throughout Burundi and recommends antimalarial medication for travellers to all regions. The medicine should be selected with a clinician because the choice depends on your itinerary, health and other medicines.

When should I see a travel doctor before Burundi?

Aim to arrange a travel-health appointment at least eight weeks before departure. UK government guidance recommends that timeframe, but an appointment can still be worthwhile when travel is sooner.

Is there a cholera outbreak in Burundi?

UK travel advice reports that a cholera outbreak continues in Burundi. The CDC says cholera vaccination may be considered for travellers going to areas of active transmission, so check current notices and ask a clinician about your itinerary.

What is the emergency number in Burundi?

Call 112 and ask for an ambulance. UK government guidance also lists 109 for assistance from the Red Cross.

Do New Zealander citizens need a visa for Burundi?

The health sources used for this article do not establish a New Zealand-specific visa rule. Check the current Burundian entry requirements and SafariFind’s separate guide to visas for New Zealanders before booking or travelling.